Eastern Conference:

Cavs over Bulls in 5
Heat over Celtics in 6
Hawks over Bucks in 4
Magic over Bobcats in 5

Cavs over Heat in 4
Magic over Hawks in 6

Cavs over Magic in 7

Western Conference

Lakers over Thunder in 6
Nuggets over Jazz in 7
Suns over Blazers in 4
Mavericks over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Nuggets in 7
Mavericks over Suns in 6

Lakers over Mavericks in 6

NBA Finals

Cavaliers over Lakers in 6

i like your confidence in the Hawks even though you have them losing to the Magic in 6. Honestly i would be worried about them winning 2 against the Magic

but maybe it's my new Josh Smith j-shirt. I can now alternate between the Horford one and the Smith one. I'm set.

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant is the youngest scoring champion in NBA History, and I think the Thunder gives Kobe and the Lakers all they can handle in Round 1. For those who haven't seen a Thunder game this season, now's your chance. Game 1 of that series happens at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on ESPN/ABC Sports at 2p Sunday.

Round 1 - Eastern Conference:

- Cleveland over Chicago in 5 games. I do think, with Shaq returning, that this may be a more competitive series than some might think, and the Bulls will find a way to win a game at home. In the end, LeBron James is going to dominate this series.

- Boston over Miami in 6 games. I'm not very interested in this series. Wade is the best player on the floor, but the rest of his team is pretty horrible. Boston has become an old, declining team, but they still have enough to get through the Heat, who will make this a series becaue the Celtics defense is not what it was, and D.Wade will put the Heat on his back.

- Hawks over Bucks in 6 games. On paper, this shouldn't go 6 games. Atlanta has too much talent, but they have had problems closing out games, and Skiles has gotten as much as possible out of this team. I don't think Milwaukee has a real chance to win this series, but a scrappy team that plays disciplined basketball will win a few games here.

- Orlando over Charlotte in 5 games. Charlotte is an interesting team - Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson are very good players, but they have nobody to keep Howard under control.

Round 1 - Western Conference:

- Lakers over Oklahoma City in 5 games. The Thunder is a team to watch in the future with Durant and Westbrook. The Lakers come into this series with tons of questions concerning their play, but I think they're going to pull out the close games in this series. I'm sure there will be one game where the Lakers show up.

- Jazz over Nuggets in 7 games. All of these teams in the West are so close in ability, but I am a little down on Denver coming into the playoffs. Utah has also been extremely hot, Deron Williams has had a great season, and I like the scoring options on Utah better.

- Suns over Blazers in 7 games. If I knew Brandon Roy was going to be his normal self, I think I may have picked Portland here. With him at less than 100%, Phoenix can probably do enough offensively to squeak by.

- Mavericks over Spurs in 6 games. Another series I'm looking forward to. SA is in decline but they still are a 50 win team so Dallas is going to have a battle on it's hands here.
Mavericks over Spurs in 6

nice analysis, BD

I agree with all your picks except I'm taking Spurs over Mavs, I don't think the Suns will need 7 to win that series and I'm taking Nuggets over Jazz in 6

Cavs and Lakers, how fuckin tough is it? Especially when the refs are going to be told thats the way Stern wants it

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Cavs over Bulls in 5
Celtics over Heat in 6
Hawks over Bucks in 5
Magic over Bobcats in 4

Cavs over Heat in 4
Magic over Hawks in 6

Cavs over Magic in 6

Western Conference

Lakers over Thunder in 5
Jazz over Nuggets in 7
Suns over Blazers in 6
Spurs over Mavs in 7

Lakers over Jazz in 6
Spurs over Suns in 6

Lakers over Spurs in 6

NBA Finals

Cavs over Lakers in 7




Hardest to call is Mavs/ Spurs...

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

East

Cavs over Bulls in 6
Heat over Boston in 6
Atlanta over Milwaukee in 5
Magic over Bobcats in 4

Cavs over Heat in 7
Magic over Atlanta in 5

Magic over Cavs in 6

West

Lakers over Thunder in 7
Jazz over Nuggets in 5
Suns over Blazers in 5
Spurs over Mavs in 6

Jazz over Lakers in 6
Spurs over Suns in 7

Spurs over Jazz in 7

NBA Finals

Spurs over Magic in 6

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

East

Cavs over Bulls in 5
Heat over Boston in 6
Atlanta over Milwaukee in 6
Magic over Bobcats in 4

Cavs over Heat in 6
Magic over Atlanta in 5

Cavs over Magic in 7

West

Lakers over Thunder in 6
Jazz over Nuggets in 6
Suns over Blazers in 5
Mavs over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Jazz in 6
Suns over Mavs in 7

Lakers over Suns in 6

NBA Finals

Cavs over Lakers in 7

_________________
You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

Nas, I don't think ESPN/ABC bosses want that for an NBA Final if it came to fruition. That being said, Kevin Durant and the Thunder will give the NBA Champs all they can handle in Round 1 starting Sunday. I don't know if it'll be as entertaining as the Bulls/Celtics' first round series last year, but this Thunder team is one to keep an eye on moving forward.

They have as good a chance at anyone in the West. The Lakers are 16-12 since the AS break. I think it'd wide open, and I like their potential matchups against the Mavs and Suns.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

me too
can't be more pleased w/ their first round matchup. should be good

Cavs over Bulls in 5
Boston over Heat in 7
Hawks over Bucks in 5
Magic over Bobcats in 5

Cavs over Boston in 6
Magic over Hawks in 6

Magic over Cavs in 7

Lakers over Thunder in 6
Nuggets over Jazz in 7
Suns over Blazers in 6
Mavs over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Nuggets in 6
Mavs over Suns in 6

Lakers over Mavs in 7

NBA Finals

Lakers over Magic in 6

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Robert Horry isn't around anymore to do any hip checking into the scorer's table.

_________________

they can probably convince matt bonner to do it
he's pretty thuggish

Bagels/Douchebag will you guys be providing us with your predictions?

Edit- Guess Bagels did by his post following BD,ima dumbass

_________________
You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

Love the Spurs and Mavs first round series. Cannot wait to come up with a good signature for FF.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'll make it nice and official for you all

Cavs def Bulls 4-0
Hawks def Bucks 4-1
Magic def Bobcats 4-2
Celtics def Heat 4-2

Lakers def Thunder 4-2
Spurs def Mavs 4-3
Nuggets def Jazz 4-3
Suns def Blazers 4-2


Cavs def Celtics 4-1
Magic def Hawks 4-1

Lakers def Nuggets 4-3
Spurs def Suns 4-2


Cavs def Magic 4-3
Lakers def Spurs 4-2

Cavs def Lakers 4-2

The mindgames have already started, even though the Thunder/Lakers' series does NOT tipoff until Sunday at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Head coach Phil Jackson, who should know better about superstars getting calls with his own Laker in Kobe Bryant and all the times Michael Jordan seemed to get the benefit of the officials, has already gotten under the skin of Kevin Durant.

Jackson has taken exception to Durant getting superstar calls from officials, and the NBA has fined Phil $35,000 for such remarks. For those who haven't had a chance to see Durant and the Thunder, now is your chance. They'll get the rare ABC treatment Sunday at 2p in Game 1 of the first round series.

My Magic pick is right? Check. My LA pick is right? Check. I guess I got my swagger back...

_________________

If the Bucks pull the big upset you're 8/8. I dont think they will though, and my guess is we'll both be 7/8 after Round 1.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

i'm also 7/8.......damn Nuggets

I, will, not, lose! Put something on it. I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell I am a hustler baby, I'll sell water to a well

_________________

8/8

_________________
1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011